John 1: 1 – 2 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. (2) He was present originally with God. (3) All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. (AMP C)
Not only is God Himself the source of The Living Word but The Living Word IS God Himself. God and His Word are One. You cannot separate God from His Word.
Hebrews 11: 3 By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible. (AMP C)
Colossians 2: 3 In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. (AMP C)
Colossians 2: 9 – 10 For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature]. (10) And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. (AMP C)
2nd Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (18) Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (19) that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. (NKJV)
Ephesians 4: 22 – 24 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; (23) And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], (24) And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness. (Amplified Classic)
Ephesians 4: 25 Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another. (Amplified Classic)
Ephesians 4: 26 – 27 When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down. (27) Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him]. (Amplified Classic)
James 1: 19 – 20 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. (20) For man’s anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires]. (Amplified Classic)
When you take offence allowing anger to operate, and you do not deal with it, it will lead to hatred, which will turn into bitterness.
Ephesians 4: 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. (Amplified Classic)
Nehemiah 8: 10b … Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (NKJV)
Proverbs 17: 22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. (NKJV)
If we are truly Born-Again, joy is already present in us by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Joy is one of the Fruit of The Spirit listed inGalatians 5: 22 – 23.
Galatians 5: 22 – 23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (NKJV)
(Amplified Classic) But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes]
Joy is a major Spiritual force.
We must choose the Joy and activate it, otherwise it will remain present but in-active.
Joy, like all the Fruit of the Spirit, must be exercised regularly in order for the fruits to develop. We must always be Fruit of the Spirit minded.
When I walk the Love Walk it produces the fruit of Joy and all the related fruit of the Spirit.
When we are praying applying our faith to the promises in God’s Living Word rejoicing in the Lord will bring us to a place of rest in our Faith.
We must Rejoice always in every circumstance of life.
Philippians 4: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (NKJV)
2nd Timothy 1: 6 – 7 That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. (7) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.(Amplified Classic)
Hebrews 12: 12 – 13 So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees, (13)And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured. (Amplified Classic)
Philippians 2: 13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. (Amplified Classic)
Isaiah 41: 10 Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. (Amplified Classic)
The Living Word must abide in our hearts in order for it to bring forth the manifestation or harvest. The Living Word must abide in the heart or there can be no harvest.
The only way that satan can prevent the Living Word from bringing forth harvest is to get the believer to move away from the Living Word. Satan must prevent the Living Word from abiding in the heart of the believer otherwise The Living Word will come to harvest. He cannot prevent it from bringing forth harvest unless he can deceive the believer into moving away and letting go of the Abiding Living Word.
That is why it is so vital that we understand the Abiding Word and that we Guard Our Hearts above all that we guard.
Proverbs 4: 23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. (Amplified Classic)
If we do not guard our hearts the Living Word will not be able to come to harvest or manifestation. It is our job to guard our hearts not God’s.
Ephesians 6: 10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. (Amplified Classic)
Ephesians 3: 16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. (Amplified Classic)
1st Corinthians 15: 57 – 58 But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.(58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose]. (Amplified Classic)
***If you have made Jesus Your Lord and Savior you are never alone and without hope.
Hope or Hopelessness? Our focus in life determines which we will walk in.
Hopelessness can slip up on us if we are focusing on the wrong thing.
If we are continuously focusing on the problem, we will be building the problem and be on our way to hopelessness.
What we focus on the most becomes who we are.
No matter what the problems in life are, they are temporary. Your eternity is not temporary. It is eternal without end. You decide where your focus should be.
We need to change our focus in life to see our lives and the lives of others through the eyes of Love and God’s Living Word.
The Lord’s focus is upon us.
Place your focus in life on God and His Word and watch the circumstances in your life change.
No matter what the problem is the Lord already knows the answer. He will guide us if we set our love and hope on Him.
God has a deep desire to reveal His Ways to us. He reveals His Ways through His Word. As born-again believers the Holy Spirit Himself dwells in us. He reveals the Living Word of God to us. The Living Word of God reveals God’s Ways.
John 14: 26 But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. (Amplified Classic)
John 16: 13 – 15 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. (14) He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.(15) Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.(Amplified Classic)
The ways of the Lord are:
Love – Mercy – Grace – Loving kindness – Goodness – Faithfulness – Integrity – Long suffering – Full of Joy – Eternal without ceasing – Holy – Truth – Steadfast – Bring life – Righteous – Always right
As a born-again child of God His Ways are supposed to be our ways.
Hebrews 1: 3 He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high, (Amplified Classic)
Colossians 1: 15 – 20 [Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation. (Amplified Classic)
It is God’s Will to reveal His Ways to us through Jesus (The Living Word) by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is a copy of the Living Word of God. It reveals the very nature and character of God Himself, Who He Is and His Ways.
The Bible reveals who we are and what our ways should be. The Bible also reveals who satan is and his ways.
It is absolutely vital that we know the Ways of the Lord. All of God’s Ways are revealed in Jesus Christ. As we study God’s Living Word, and walk in Love, God’s Ways are revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.
It is God’s Will to reveal His Ways to us through Jesus (The Living Word) by the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 2: 2 – 3 [For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One). (3)In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. (Amplified Classic)
It is God’s Will to reveal His Ways to us through Jesus (The Living Word) by the Holy Spirit.
The Bible is a copy of the Living Word of God. It reveals the very nature and character of God Himself, Who He Is and His Ways.
The Bible reveals who we are and what our ways should be.
The Bible also reveals who Satan is and his ways.
It is absolutely vital that we know the Ways of the Lord. All of God’s Ways are revealed in Jesus Christ. As we study God’s Living Word, and walk in Love, God’s Ways are revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 2: 2 – 3 [For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One). (3)In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. (Amplified Classic)
God’s Ways are hidden in Christ Jesus but revealed to God’s children by the Holy Spirit as we set our love upon God and walk the love walk. It is the will of God and His deep desire to reveal Himself to His People.
1 To adjust your eye, a lens, a TV, or similar item to produce a clearer image.
2 To fix or settle on one thing; to concentrate
3 To focus one’s attention on a specific subject or question.
One of the main tactics that the enemy uses is to try and keep our focus on the wrong thing. He works hard at drawing our focus away from God and His Living Word.
Throughout Scripture we see people who had their Faith and Life focus on God and His Living Word.
In order for their Faith to work they had to be Focused on Love, the Word, and Faith. Faith works by Love. Faith is applied to the Word.
They corrected themselves, their emotions, and the way they responded to the circumstances of life based on God and His Word.
Their life focus was their relationship with God.The same should be true of every Christian.
Psalm 25: 1 – 2 UNTO YOU, O Lord, do I bring my life. (2a) O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. (Amplified Classic)
Psalm 27: 1 THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation–whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid? (Amplified Classic)
What in your life do you focus on the most? What is Your Life Focus? What we focus on the most becomes who we are.
To be successful in any area of life we must be focused in that area. If we are not focused, we will not be successful.
We must decide where our focus should be. What we focus on goes farther than just being successful in this life. Our life focus will determine our destiny in this life and our eternity that follows.
God gave man the right to choose. He will back our choice. The choices we make determines our focus.
Romans 8: 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (NKJV)
Matthew 6: 33 – 34 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (34) So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. (Amplified Classic)
Our Life Focus must be on God’s Living Word first of all.
Colossians 3: 1 – 3 IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. (3) For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. (Amplified Classic)
Colossians 3: 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (NKJV)
Consistent = Constant, Always the same, not wavering, never changing.
Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (NKJV)
As Born-Again Children of God we should be striving to develop and live a consistent Christian Life.
Colossians 3: 1 – 5 IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. (Amplified Classic)
Once we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior we have New Life. We have been translated from death to life, from darkness to light. Our sins have been paid for and nailed to the Cross. We are a New Creation in Christ Jesus.
2nd Corinthians 5: 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV)
Now that we are a new creation in Christ Jesus, it is up to us to develop this new man. We must find out who this new man is.
It is our choice what we do with this new man. It is our choice how far we go with God. We are the ones who choose whether or not we develop this new man and how far we go.
The only limit that Our Loving Father has where we are concerned is the limit that we place on Him.
Fear, worry, deception, and strife are the Satan’s big guns, his big weapons. They are involved in just about everything he does.
As long as we are part of this world, at one time or another, no matter who we are, no matter how young or old we are, we are all going to have to deal with fear in our lives.
How we respond to that fear makes all the difference. How do we deal with fear? When the opportunity comes along to fear we must resist it.
Fear does not come from God. God is not the author of fear. God Is Love.1st John 4: 7 – 8, 16
2nd Timothy 1: 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (NKJV)
When the Bible talks about fearing God it is Talking about reverential fear which is one of the definitions found in the dictionary.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Fear:
1a: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger
b(1): an instance of this emotion (2): a state marked by this emotion
Psalm 56: 10 – 11 (Amplified Classic) In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise, (11) In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
All fear is self-centered. It always focuses on self. Love is others centered. It always focuses on others.
Whenever our focus is on ourselves rather than others, we have the foundation necessary to produce iniquity and sin. That foundation of iniquity and sin opens the door for fear to function and rule.
Colossians 3: 23 – 24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (24) Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (KJV)
Selfishness is a way of thinking that motivates a person to always seek his or her own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for the well-being of others.
Believers can avoid selfishness by purposely seeking the well-being of others.
A Believer should never esteem his or her life and purposes above another person’s or above the plans and purposes of God
The temptation to be self-centered or selfish must be resisted. A self-centered person always has an issue with pride.
James 4: 6 – 8 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” (7) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (NKJV)
A self-centered or selfish person will have difficulty with pride and therefore will have difficulty in his love walk and his relationship with Jesus.
Selfishness and fear are two primary obstacles to agape in the life of the Believer.
Some Christians allow selfishness to stop them from walking in the unconditional, unqualified love of God
Self-centered people invariably struggle with depression and oppression. They can’t sleep. Their relationships are shallow and unsatisfying. They are constantly thinking only of themselves and not of others.
The lifestyle of love is exactly the opposite. Love says don’t seek your own interest first but the interest of others. Love says to think the best of every person and take no thought to an evil done to me. Love says to bear one another’s burdens. Love says if you want to be great be the servant of all.
Matthew 20: 25 – 28 And Jesus called them to Him and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men hold them in subjection [tyrannizing over them]. (26) Not so shall it be among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, (27) And whoever desires to be first among you must be your slave– (28) Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free]. (Amplified Classic)
The biggest enemy to the love of God is love of self. You must get rid of selfishness in order to walk in the love of God.
You must be willing to put God’s will above your own desires and above everything else in your life. That is what it really means to love God.
What do you have on the throne of your heart as a priority?
What keeps you from your time with the Lord or doing what you already know to do?
What are you so tied to that it effects your time with the Lord?
Many people tie themselves to money, houses, other people, and pleasures instead of God. However, you cannot get so tied to those things that you forget God.
Matthew 6: 33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (34) So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. (Amplified Classic)
Loving God, setting your love upon Him, requires that you tie yourself to Him and Him alone. He should be your number one priority.
Psalm 27: 4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.(Amplified Classic)
Luke 11: 9 – 10 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (10) For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (NKJV)
Colossians 3: 14 (Amplified Classic) And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].
Matthew 6: 33 (Amplified Classic) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (34) So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.
When you truly set your love upon God, Who IS Love, the worries and fears of life no longer concern you because He IS with you.
Colossians 3: 1 – 4 (Amplified Classic) IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.(2) And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. (3) For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.
Ephesians 6: 10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. (Amplified Classic)
Ephesians 3: 16 – 17 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality] (Amplified Classic)
John 15: 7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. (Amplified Classic)
1st Thessalonians 2: 13 And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it]. (Amplified Classic)
Ephesians 6: 10 (Amplified Classic) In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
We cannot walk the Love Walk in our own strength. We must be strong IN The Lord. We draw our strength from Him. Our strength flows from our union and communion with Him. We are strengthened from our inner man.
Not only do we draw our strength from the Lord as we walk in Love setting our love upon Him, but as we Love God we Love One Another. As we Love one Another we draw strength from one another.
Ephesians 4: 16 (Amplified Classic) For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
Restoration Ministries 